Five Home Maintenance Tasks to do in January

January Home Maintenance

Every month brings new challenges you have to face in your home. Here are some things you should tackle in the month of January to keep your house in tip-top shape.

1. Clean up the holidays

Unfortunately, January brings with it the end of the holiday season, which means it’s time to start cleaning up from the holiday season. First things first, it’s time to take down the lights. To make it less of a hassle to get them out next year, consider wrapping the lights around a hanger. This will keep them from getting tangled while sitting in a box waiting to be hung for next year. Take down the ornaments and bring the tree to the curb. You can also use the tree for composting if you have a compost pile in your yard. Take down and carefully put away any other holiday decorations you have set up in and around your home.

2. Clean kitchen appliances

The month of December is heavily spent in the kitchen. After the family is gone and the large meals are done being cooked, it’s time to clean up the appliances. Clean stove tops and hood, making sure to get under the racks and the slats in the hood. Be sure to clean your oven as well. Your oven will most likely have a self-cleaning option, but it is very possible you’ll need to put in some elbow grease to clean it yourself. Don’t forget to also clean out your sink and garbage disposal.

3. Declutter

What haven’t you used in the last year or what don’t you like anymore? Go through your closets, drawers, and if you’re feeling up to it, your basement and attic. If you haven’t used it or worn it in the past year, consider donating it or getting rid of it. If you’re up to it,  spend one day decluttering or you can spread it out room by room over a few days.

4. Protect your pipes

In the winter, exposed pipes can very easily freeze. Frozen pipes can burst, leading to a flooded home. If you’ll be away from your home for a long period of time, wrap your pipes with heat tape that you can control with a thermostat. If you haven’t already, turn off water to outdoor spigots.

5. Check your roof and gutters

Ice dams can cause a lot of damage to your roof and to your home. When ice gets in and around your eaves, damage can be done to your roof and can cause leaks. Ice dams occur when your attic is warmer than the outside air. When ice builds up, it prevents water from draining off your roof, causing icicles. This can also cause the water to back up underneath the shingles and leak into your attic. To prevent ice dams, add more insulation in the attic to keep warmer air downstairs and make sure your attic has proper ventilation. In addition, whenever there is a snowfall, be sure to use a roof rake to get as much snow off your roof as you can without getting onto your roof. Finally, make sure that your gutters and downspouts are clear, allowing for water to flow freely.